Draft appliance for railway-vehicles.



Q. R Hmm. DRAFT APPLIANCE F018 RAILWAY VEHICLE-255 xPPucA'TloNnLEp EAN.25. 1916i l Patented Feb. 12,' 1918.

. Z' l @ifa Uni-inn srafrns PATENT osmosi.

GIBERT P. RITTER, OF "WASHINGTOIFI, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DRAFT APPLIANCE FOR RAILWAY-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

extending the central lfriction vmember beends the arms of the yoke 5'are preferably 10 tween the spring units. slotted to receive ahorizontallv cxtendin'g,r In the drawings illustrating the bestmode keyG which also passes through a slot in in which I have contemplatedapplying the the shank of the coupler 7, -the yoke being principle of myinvention, thus made to move with the coupler when Figure 1 is a view,partly in side elevathe latter is subjected todi-aft forces. 10' tionand partly in vertical section, of av T he cushioning mechanism embracedby draft gear embodying the invention, aporthe yoke involves springs.relatively movtion orA the ear framing being also shown. able frictionmembers varid means for pres-s- Fig. 2 1s a. view.l partly in plan andpartly -ing the relatively movable friction members in horizontalsection, of av structure illustogether whenever the springs are coml!Application led January 25, 1916.

To aZZ i/:wm it may Concern:

Be it known that l', (in nur l?. llrr'riin, al citizen of die UnitedStates. residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft Appliances forRailivay-l/lehiclcs; and I do herebyr declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, sucih as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to draft appliances for railway vehicles and itsprimary object is to produce a friction draft gear in which the elementsthereof are so constructed and arrange-fl that a mechanism having a veryhigh capacity to resist draft and bufiing shocks. may be made ofsufficiently compact form vto enable it to be readily located in 'thecomparatively narrow space between steel car center-sills having thepresent standard spacing.' A further object of the invention is toproduce a friction draft gear which may be easily applied to. or removedfrom the railway vehicle. A still further 3 object of the invention isto form the rigid parts of the mechanism so as to conduce to lightnessof structure, strength and simplicity of manufacture. Other features ofAinvention, residing' in particular eon'ibinatiens of elements andspecial forms of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in theclaims. H

Generally stated7 these several objects may be accomplished by employingin a friction draft gear a centrally arranged friction element havingits upper and under sides in slidable contact with friction elementswhich press against vthe friction faces of said ccntr'al frictionelement, by vertically dispcsing, one above another` the springs orspring umts which are employed to induce the pressure between thefriction elements, and by .movements of the coupler.

lPatented Feb. 12, 1918-.

semi No. 74,149. I

Fig. G is a perspective view of one of the friction elements; and

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section illustrating the means employed toretain the cushioning parts in assembled relation for shipping, and toimpart to thesprings or ispring units an initial compression for takingup wear of the. friction elements.

In the drawings the center-sills or draft-- sills ot a car are indicatedby the reference numeral l. The illustrated form of these sills is, ofcourse, to he regardcd'as typical and not as material to the invention.

Secured to the inner face of each of the.:

sills l, as by means of rivets, is'a cheekplatc or draw-bar'follower'stop casting 2. These cheek-plates are preferably formed at therear aswell as at. the front with inwardly extending stops 3 which. byoverlaliipinglyengaging adjacent movable parts that perform thefunctions of followers. serve to transmit to the underframe of the carthe draft and buiiing shocks after modification b v the cushioningmechanism'. Each of the cheelvplates 3 is also preferably provided wit-ha longitudinally extending rc'- cess or way 1L for the reception ofmeans for communicating draft forces from` the coupler to the cushioningmechanism, such means. as shown', being most advantageously` formed as aU-shaped yoke 5 whiclrpasses around the rear end of the cushioningincohanism and which has its arms. bars or branches disposed oppcsiteeach other horizontally so as to permit the elements of the pressed inresponse to the draft and buing The inner fricitsrear end the innerfriction member 8 enf `gages, and', as shown, is preferably integrallyfashioned with, a follower 13 upon" Wbichare seated the springs 12, saidsprings, which are preferably nested spring units,

being arrangedone above the other and be-r ing separatedbythe innerfriction member 26 S. 'The follower-@Silit will be understood,

-is draivznfornja'rdby the .yoke 5 under the, v,np-plication'ofdraftforcesand in buling 1s hel tationary bv the/ .rearstops; 3 of the.25; LTheeXternal .rtion members 14, which coo t h member- 8.

ftiori members 4 opress-.ajgainstthe 'inner .110.y friction4 'nienober;'preferably/consist of a clampingor .Wedgino-iniexnber.10 having av centalapert reA 16d-or'. lfthezreception of the IeireralzfIct'ion memuppean'd" l o wer inclins 17 y Y* u le' irefe'rably di- `freetl .engage'-corresponding. inclined faces n-'ard'fend he vclamping; or.. Wedgingmeans 50,A :1Q n izty b .and,v preferabljiis, provided withansintegralljf attached platedike portion or: foilmeer` Whichrn normalposition of the arts :and in" .burning operations is en ga ged l ytherearend of the .eoupler 7 and #which l' when themoripleris subjected todraften gagesthe stationary stops 3 at the forward "'endsot thevchecli-'platesf2,v -The :clamping mearislfl andthe enternal,frictioni'neinbers 14 more togethcras a unit or 1n cluster1 and -the'seclusteredpajrts are operatively interposed either between thesprings 12and tho cl'uupler-"7 or `lbetween the springs and the follower stops 3at theforward ends of the cheek-plates, vdepending upon Whether themechanism is resisting a bufling or a draft.

' ,1i nseeshr' Meer lm nplng member. ngage theforward`nsingithe;(internal fricshock, the pressure of the eXternal'fr-icti'onelenients against. the inner friction n'ieinber varying; directly withvthe compression of the springs which act. upon the clustered parts thepz ing con el ein ei ure of the springs l@ instead of bexmunieated tothe rnal friction l5; linfough the cL bers, the inner ends of the latterbeingr sea ed on their respective springs which are as sembled in theapparatus with Sufficient initial compression to take 'up or compensatef orjrear of the parts. To attain desirable compactness the Contactl ofthe external friction members 14 with the inner friction member 8preferably terminates at the forward ends of the springs 12. Thisarrangementpermits springs of very large capacity 10, snail belransmitl'eo to said elan'iping' member tlnough the external frictionmeinn to be employed without unduly increasingf:

the vertical height of the cushioning mechansm.

In order to place the springs-under tlief-d'e-i .sired initialcompression and also to 'afford a convenient means for retainingthef..,parts"1 in assembled relation for shipping".thefor- Ward end .ofthe tongue 9 oftheinner'fri tion member maybe providedwith'a thread;

ed recess 20 which is in -alinement Withan opening 2l in thefollowerportion -19of`- ,p the clamping member 10.'

threaded bolt 22 through the openirigibl and screwing' its threaded endinto the'threaded :recess 2O of the inner friction* memberg as vshown in'Fig `7, thesprings l'may' By' Passing. e

be. compressed, as Willbe readily under'- stood.

the application of the draft geen to the Before the coupler 7 and yoke'5f I are connected to each other in completing p railwayv vehicle, thebolt 22 is prefer' ably removed, although it may be out. through theusual hole in the rear end of the coupler stern. To 'prevent such 'anupsetting of the metal around the. threaded permit ted to remain 1nplace and slide inrand opening; 90 as might render it difficult to-subl"sequently engage the` bolt Q2 with the threads of the recess, an annularcounter sink Q3 may encirclev or 'border the outer-.end

of the threaded recess.'I t In order to supportithe rear end of thedraft gear it is preferred to employ a carrier I plate 24 which isdetachably connected to the sills of the ear by means of bolt-s 25 and-which passes under and engagesfthe lower spring 12. To preventexcessive upward movement of the mechanism a cover plate 26,

which is secured to the center-sills and which lies -closely7 above'theuppers ning 12, may

i .l be conveniently adopted. li' 1n anyhinstance may seem desirable to'afford special supportfor the forward end of the cushioningn'xechanisin, a supporting bar, strap or plate 22' may be detaohablyconnected to the sills by bolts 28 for that purpose, the said. strapbeing positioned so as to engage the under surface o t the Aclampingi'neniber 'l0A The application of the mechanism to a railway vehicle, orits removal therefronji should repairs become necessary, may beeirpeditiouslyv accomplished with comparatively little labor. To applythe mechanism the springs, friction. members and clamping )to member arebrought into asseniblefl relation anti the springs are put under initialeon1 }'iression by means of the bolt 22. These parte thas conoectetl arethen inserted vern t-ieally between the bars or branches'ot the yoke 5and positioned between. the stops or lugs 3, the voltehaving beentheretoifore inserted iu the guideuays il of the cheekil'ites. The boltmay then be reniovetl ont' ;.o supportingplatos lei i'najy 2o ne ci lothe sills o1' the il molly,

the coupler i may lio plotted in position and eoi'inectecl to the relielijf means oi the nsrerselv exteni'ling ke t' u l l0 anti the externalfriction ir ibers ietf, which are ilreterably jf'ielclingly supporte.against movement in one direction only, iro forced rearwardly thecoupler 7, oompressinflr the springs 'l2 againstV the follower 13, whichthen seated on the rear follower stops 3, i l thereby pressing theexternal 'friction i :nbers li againstthe inner friction member 8 todevelop friction as the external-frio tion members slitle upon the innerfriction i5 rnei'n'oer. Upon a cessation of the boiling force, thesprings 12 expand and. return 'the to normal position. the recoil of thev ingr-s decreased by the braking ci? feet oi' the friction oetireen thecooperating' trictioi l me in draft the stamping inoniber lti enti extornai friction members ist: are heldv stationby the forward stops 3 ofthe cheek Y 'n' alos. While tb" reke 5 moves the follower .i3 and inner'ti ation member S forwardly. The springs 12 are thus compressed and theinner friction member is foi-eetl between the external friction membersto develop fric- `tion in augmentation of the siinpie spring'3tlrcsistance and tiireetly proportional thereto. lo bnllng as Well asin draft the compro.

sion oi. the springs l2 is limited by the en agen-)cnt of." the outerend of' the inner friotion i'nen'iber 8 with the. elampliar;A member l0.aejrill be readily apparent.

claim: Y l )fn a fri tion tirait gear, the eornbinal with an im'zcrfriction member, frio i members e nal thereto anni contactngmtl'iei'ewitli and movable with respect.

hereto, anni, means or causing said external.

l l said inner friction member, said means im Jion members to pressinwardly against' volving a plurality of springs arranged one aboveanother, and said inner friction incineber eiztendinrT between and tolimit the compression ot' said springs.

Q. In a friction draft gear, the combina tion. with an inner frictionmember, of .fries tion members external thereto and coperatingtherewith, springs arranged one above another on opposite sides ot saidinner lrio tion .niembcr, and means tor operatively connesting saitlfriction members and springs to a car coupler, said means involving;rhorizontally alinctl bars disposed at the sides ot said frictionmembers.

3.. ln a friction draft gear, the combination with coupler, ofrelatively movable contactingr friction members, a plurality of springsarranged one above. another andoperatiugr when the coupler is .moved intirati: or buiiing to apply pressure to saitl friction members, azul means tor operatively connecting said friction ineinbtus and springs to thecar coupler, said means in roiving horizontally,T alinccl barserrant-'eci at the sitios of said. friction members.

4:. In a frictionorai't gear, 'the combination with an inner frictionmember, of friotion members external thereto antl contacting therewithantiL movable with. respect thereto, a pluralityT of sprines arrangedone above another, and wcdging ineens movable from normal position inone direction only for causing said external friction elements to pressinwardly.

5. .ln e friction droit gear, the combina tion with relativi-ffi-7n'io'voble contacting friction members, oi a `nluurality of springs:1.rranged one above another.4v enel wedging means movable 'troni normalp( ition tiir-etion onlyv for cansino" members to be pressed together.

it. In a friction tirait gear, the combinetion with an inner frictionmember, of 'frietion members external thereto and eontacting therewith,enti a plurality of springs acting upon said external friction members,said inner friction member extending hetween. said springs, and theContact of said exteri'ial friction members with saitl inner frictionmember terminating' at. the 'pro/Ximate ends the. springs, v

7. ln a. friction draft the combination. with a coupler, of relativelymovable engi-igloo friction members, e plurality of springs, and gingmeans :tor causing the pressure ot saifl snriug's to torce said friotion members together` said springs acting simultencously7 and.intlcnomlcntiy to create pressure between sai-fl friction members andharingr their the same vertical plane.

ln testimonyY whereof I alirr my signature.

GUERET t.V RTTER.

